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Kevin Durant Withdraws From USAB

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Aug. 7, 2014) – USA Basketball National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo today announced that Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) has informed USA Basketball that he was withdrawing from participating with the 2014 USA National Team and from consideration for the 2014 USA Basketball Men’s World Cup Team roster. The USA National Team is scheduled to resume its 2014 preparations for the FIBA Basketball World Cup on Aug. 14 in Chicago.

“Kevin reached out to Coach K and myself this afternoon and expressed that he is just physically and mentally drained from the NBA season and his attention to his many responsibilities. He tried to give it a go at our recent Las Vegas training camp but felt coming out of camp that he was not prepared to fulfill the commitment he made to the team,” said Colangelo. “Coach K and I fully support Kevin. His well being is the most important thing to us and we support him taking the time to get ready for next season. He’s been part of the National Team program for eight years and a big part of the success we have achieved, and we look forward to him being part of our success in the future as well.”

“We are excited about the opportunity ahead of us and to getting back to work in Chicago on Aug. 14. All 15 players are committed to the USA Basketball standard, which is to come together to win gold medals.”

Durant explained his decision saying, “This was an extremely difficult decision as I take great pride in representing our country. I know that I owe it to my USA Basketball teammates to be totally invested in the experience. After going through training camp with USAB, I realized I could not fulfill my responsibilities to the team from both a time and energy standpoint. I need to take a step back and take some time away, both mentally and physically in order to prepare for the upcoming NBA season. I will be rooting for USAB and look forward to future opportunities with them.”

The 15 USA finalists will resume training in Chicago with practices Aug. 14-15 at the Quest Multisport Complex, and will play an exhibition contest versus Brazil at the United Center on Aug. 16 (8 p.m. CDT).

The American squad will continue its World Cup preparations Aug. 18-22 in New York, and play a pair of exhibition games at Madison Square Garden, Aug. 20 against Dominican Republic, and Aug. 22 versus Puerto Rico. The USA will complete its pre-World Cup exhibition tour on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain. Training Aug. 24-25, the U.S. will close out its exhibition tour on Aug. 26 facing Slovenia at Gran Canaria Arena. Conducting a basketball clinic for youth on Aug. 27 in Dakar, Senegal, the USA team will complete its training for the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Basketball World Cup Aug. 28-29 in Bilbao, Spain, the site of its World Cup preliminary round games,

The 2014 World Cup, featuring a total of 24 national teams, is scheduled to be held Aug. 30-Sept. 14 in Spain. The USA will play its preliminary round games in Bilbao, after being drawn into Group C along with teams from the Dominican Republic, Finland, New Zealand, Turkey and Ukraine.

The USA opens the 2014 World Cup on Aug. 30 against Finland, and then faces Turkey on Aug. 31 in a rematch of the 2010 FIBA World Championship gold medal game, a contest in which the USA claimed an 81-64 victory. Following a day off on Sept. 1, the USA resumes play Sept. 2 facing New Zealand. The U.S. will go against the Dominican Republic on Sept. 3, and will conclude its preliminary play on Sept. 4 facing Ukraine.

Each team at the 2014 World Cup will play the other teams in its preliminary group, and the top four finishing teams from each of the four preliminary round groups will then qualify for the round of 16. Winners of the round of 16 games will advance to the quarterfinals, while losers are eliminated. Winners of the quarterfinals games will advance to the medal round semifinals, while the quarterfinals losers are eliminated from the competition. Winners of the semifinals will advance to the Sept. 14 gold medal game, while semifinals losers will meet in the bronze medal game on Sept. 13. The games from the round of 16 to the semifinals will be played in Barcelona and Madrid, and the bronze and gold medal games will be held in Madrid.

About USA Basketball
Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA Basketball, chaired by Colangelo, is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored international competitions, as well as for some national competitions, and for the development of youth basketball initiatives that address player development, coach education and safety.

USA teams are the current men's and women's champions in the Olympics; men's and women's FIBA World Championships (Basketball World Cup); men’s and women’s FIBA U19 and U17 World Championships; men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas Championships; the FIBA 3x3 Women's World Championship; and the FIBA 3x3 Women's U18 World Championship. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world-ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.
For further information about USA Basketball, go to the official Web site of USA Basketball at usab.com and connect with us on facebook.com/usabasketball, twitter.com/usabasketball, plus.google.com/+usabasketball and youtube.com/usab.

"We've got to be very clear about this. We don't want our players hanging around with murderers," said Larry Bird, Pacers president.

Re: Kevin Durant Withdraws From USAB

You have to think that Paul George going down with his injury might just have a little bit to do with this. I really feel that some of these star players are really going to start second guessing whether to play during the summer or not.

"I've got an idea--an idea so smart that my head would explode if I even began to know what I'm talking about." - Peter Griffin

Re: Kevin Durant Withdraws From USAB

You have to think that Paul George going down with his injury might just have a little bit to do with this. I really feel that some of these star players are really going to start second guessing whether to play during the summer or not.

I don't think it had anything to do with it. Also, he's in his mid 20's and you don't get tired at that age. At least if you think that you will think otherwise later.

At 25 or 26, you decide you don't feel like doing it. That's what happened here.

Re: Kevin Durant Withdraws From USAB

I think the injury absolutely had an impact, I really haven't heard a peep from the US camp outside of the cuts they needed to make.

If Durant were a free-agent next year I could somewhat understand, but he isn't until 2016. Unrelated to the US team, I'm scared shitless if I'm OKC, I think all the puzzles are aligning for Durant to sign with the Wizards much like LeBron did with the Cavs. Would almost have to consider in that last year trying to get Beal or Wall from them in some sort of trade. I bet good money though that regardless Durant will play for the Olympic gold if possible.

"It's just unfortunate that we've been penalized so much this year and nothing has happened to the Pistons, the Palace or the city of Detroit," he said. "It's almost like it's always our fault. The league knows it. They should be ashamed of themselves to let the security be as lax as it is around here."

Re: Kevin Durant Withdraws From USAB

I agree with your second sentence, but it is Kevin Durant. If Lebron and Kevin Love rolled up to Chicago tomorrow, Coach K would find both of them spots.

I think thats a moot point because they would both make themselves look bad by showing up and taking spots away from players that were there working the entire time. It would be very bad PR for them and the team for taking them.

I don't think anyone begrudges either guy for doing what was best for themselves as professionals, but you can't have it both ways.

It wasn't about being the team everyone loved, it was about beating the teams everyone else loved.

Re: Kevin Durant Withdraws From USAB

On a totally unrelated note, random HGH testing goes into effect for the first time this season.

That would explain the steroid ring bust in Rushville this week.....

And possibly why IMPD, Undercovers, Indiana State Police, DEA, and the Brooklyn Indiana PD rolled up on a house the next street over from me the same day.....

Please don't make me have to put all this green.

"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel

"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "
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Re: Kevin Durant Withdraws From USAB

I just read an article and it implied the coaches were shocked that KD withdrew and that it had nothing to do with the UA contract.

Not sure if that was the authors opinion (I only skimmed the article at breakfast) but if that is the case, then it makes me wonder what the real reason was. PG's injury? Truely wear and wear (wouldn't one know that sooner)

Not a big deal. I don't fault the guy, but I do wonder what the true rationale is/was.